As Siduri sat there beside the big blue and black guy, a younger wolf exclaimed, asking who she was. Sid grimaced and waved a paw, dismissing the girl. She was trying to be nice and respectful here and answering the girl would just make her answer in a very Siduri way. That would definitely not be nice or respectful. Who asked someone who the heck they were? Rude. She would have to be rude in kind, so she chose not to answer at all. Not yet. Maybe once she got her answers, she would talk to the girl.

A form bowled into her shoulder and Sid prepared to launch an attack when the familiar scent and voice of Tarnish made her aware of who it was. "Dammit, Tar..." She whisper growled at him. "I'm tryin' to be good and respectable here." Then she leaned back towards him. "Also, I hate badgers."

The blue and black giant told them to sit still and Siduri did just that, staying in place until he returned to their side. He slid down to lay on his belly so that Sid could look him straight in the eye, which she appreciated. The pair were then asked who they were and the pale pup spoke for them both. "I'm Siduri and this is my brother, Tarnish." One little paw pointed towards her dark coated sibling. "I followed a badger and then I got lost when it went into it's hole. Then I saw all of you and your lights and figured you were safe." Sid gave her brother a nudge with one shoulder. "And this blackguard followed me, it seems." Siduri was oddly eloquent for a child so young. "Who are you? What's this place? Do you know how to get back to the Raiders? What's this fire thing about? Can I have some of those fancy flowers too?" Siduri of a million questions.

Piratess

Nelu watched as more wolves trickled in, he set his focus to trying to get familiar with all the faces. It would take awhile to get to know everyone in his pack but there were two distinct scents that he didn't recognize as being of the Hallows. He peered around Ven to look at a colorful pup and a melanistic male. Weren't they trespassing? He was pretty sure that was against the rules and looked to his father for just a moment before Solaire arrived and joined the group of pups and the festival was to begin.

Nelu bowed his head in a moment of silence with his father, seeking to follow along as best he could. After the more formal aspect they were turned lose to eat, drink and enjoy themselves. He stood and maneuvered through the crowd to sit closer to the bonfire and also to where he could keep an eye on the strange pups that had arrived. He wished to see how his father handled this situation and to learn from the experience.

Tarnish titled his head to the side as the big blue wolf spoke about a bonfire festival, blah, blah something. He instead focused on scouting through the trees for his companion, finally spying the crow. "Worc! Worc come down here, I want my teeth!" The crow flew down and awkwardly hopped over to the pup just as the blue man told them to wait. The minute his back was turned Tarnish stuck his tongue out and made a face at the alpha. No one told a raider what to do! Not that Tarnish really planned to go anywhere just yet.

Siduri leaned toward him saying she was trying to be respectable. He looked questioningly at her. "Wasn't that what we were doing?" Worc swatted him with a wing. "No, you're trespassing on another pack's land," hissed the crow, "we could get in very real trouble."

It took a moment for it to sink in, but what could they do? They were already in pack lands, should they just make a break for it? Before he could speak the blue wolf had returned and Siduri took the lead and answered the man's questions. Shortly after nudging him Tarnish chimed in. "I found monster teeth! I caught my sister's scent and wanted to show her." He puffed out his chest. "I'm training to be a good tracker some day!"

Raider Brats

The rainbow-hued girl gave her some sort of side eye and dismissed her with a nonchalant wave of her paw. That caused Ember's hackles to raise. Irritation rose in the young girl as she eyed up the stranger. What the frick frack?! Who did she think she was?! Did she not know Ember was the princess here and her dad, the alpha, was the one she was sitting right next to? And then she just straight up ignored her, speaking to the other strange boy who just rolled on up?! Oh, now Ember was big mad. "Hey! Don't ignore me!" she snapped back, moving to plant herself firmly at her father's side. Maybe now the girl would see the family resemblance and understand why she was gonna be in big trouble for ignoring her so rudely!

Ember scowled at the strange girl as she introduced herself as Siduri and the strange boy as her brother Tarnish. She spoke with a weird accent, a kind Ember had never heard before. Where did she come from? Who the heck were the Raiders? She asked Artorias about the bonfire and what was going on, but Ember was still upset at being so disregarded, so she looked up at her father as he laid down with the pups. "Don't tell her anything, Dad. She's wasn't nice to me," she pleaded, shooting a look back at Siduri and Tarnish, who now had a crow with him who was urgently trying to get the kids out of here. So they weren't supposed to be here? Who were these strangers?!

"Ember"

Artorias watched and listened to the children around him as Ember got huffy over being ignored by the female stranger, moving to sit at his side with a pointed glare. He nudged Ember with the side of his paw and gave her a stern look that told her to behave herself while he listened to the girl introduce herself as Siduri and her brother as Tarnish. Apparently they had been chasing badgers and come into Hallowed lands without realizing it, then came to see what the gathering for the bonfire was about. Artorias was quite impressed by the eloquence and maturity with which the girl spoke, conducting herself very well in a stranger's presence, and an adult stranger at that. Her accent, her vocabulary, her mannerisms... they all seemed vaguely familiar yet he couldn't place his paw on where he'd heard these things before. That is, he couldn't until Siduri asked him if he knew how to get back to the Raiders. Realization dawned in the Aegis' fire opal eyes as he looked between Siduri and Tarnish, recognizing those mannerisms now and where he had seen them before. Sparrow and her pirates. Now they had become Gilgamesh's Raiders.

While Tarnish explained how he had been tracking down monsters for their teeth and puffed up in pride, Artorias simply chuckled and gave a small smile to the two wayward Raider children. "I'm sure you will be, Tarnish," he remarked. Ember nudged his side then and demanded he not answer any of Siduri's questions on the grounds of her being rude. Nearby, he saw Nelu watching him as well. This could very well be a good teaching moment for the both of them about the openness and neutrality of the Hallows. As long as the pups remained respectful and out of trouble, they were their guests. Art turned a disapproving look to his pup and nudged her head with his snout. "Ember, nu suntem nepoliticoși cu oaspeții noștri," he scolded her gently in their mother tongue, then returned his attention to Siduri with a gentler, fatherly look about him. "You took a great risk coming into another pack's lands unannounced, Siduri. You and Tarnish could easily be attacked or abducted by less than savory wolves for trespassing. Fortunately, this is the Hallows, and we welcome all who come to us in peace." So long as they continued to behave, Artorias would have no reason to penalize them. They were just children, after all.

Ah, she had many questions for him to answer. So Artorias would start at the beginning and work his way down the pup's list of curiosities. "My name is Artorias. I am the alpha of the Hallows. These lands are mine and they are our home. These little ones are all my children. Dusk, Vendrick, Solaire, Nelu, Silas, and Ember." As he named each child, he would motion to them, eventually ending with a large paw clasping around Ember who was still glaring daggers at Siduri. "This giant fire is our bonfire. It's a special event we do during the summer, where we leave this light up as a beacon to keep away the dark. We also use it to remember our loved ones who have passed on. As for the flowers, you may help yourself. We have plenty to share." Ah, but the next question begging to be answered... "I do know the way back to the Raiders' Hollow. If you and Tarnish would stay the night, I can bring you both back tomorrow morning. It's not a long journey, but not one two pups could make safely at night, and I'd sleep much better knowing you were safe with us." Ultimately, the decision was up to them. Artorias would not abduct the children to force them to stay safe. But he would be happy to escort them both back home once the sun came up and he made sure they were fed.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "Argent"

One big happy family

Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
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